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Tánaiste lobbied on Moville
education
31.05.10
TÁNAISTE and Education
Minister Mary Coughlan was lobbied in relation to a
number of pressing local educational issues when she
visited Moville to officially open the new Scoil
Eoghain building on Friday.
A large crowd turned out to see the minister cut the
ribbon on the new €2.7m primary school. The
state-of-the-art building includes eight classrooms,
a library, two special tuition rooms and a general
purpose hall. It has 220 pupils and 14 staff.
During her visit, Ms Coughlan also accepted an
invitation from the chair of Moville Community
College board of management, Senator Cecilia
Keaveney, to visit the split-site campus when in the
seaside town.
"I have seen this project evolve from a concept to
the very successful school, academically, sporting
and artistic. This is a success despite
infrastructural deficiencies that still need to be
overcome," said Senator Keaveney. |
"Having seen the site
for herself Minister Coughlan is aware of the
problems but also aware of the huge potential. She
listened closely and asked the pertinent questions."
The Moville-based senator said there was potential
for more progress at the local secondary and she
would be "pushing the case with more ease now that
the Minister |
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has been, seen and
heard".
"It would be great to finish this college. The
students, staff and all concerned are doing an
excellent job under the current split-site
arrangement. I await further announcements on this
and other local Donegal schools in coming months,"
she added.
Meanwhile, Senator Keaveney said she was also
pushing for the Department of Education to release
the vacant Scoil Iosef building in Moville back to
the Derry Diocese so it can be used by the local
gaelscoil.
"The department have a lease until 2044 on the Scoil
Iosaf building. For any move into the premises to be
made by the gaelscoil, the lease would need to be
released by the department back to the diocese. It
would then free the diocese to make its own
decision.
"Minister Coughlan has informed me that the site
acquisition and property management section of the
building unit have asked the views of the relevant
stakeholders and I know that the department are
amenable to working with the community on their
preferred option. In this regard they would be open
to surrendering the lease."
Senator Keaveney added: "Having the department hold
onto a lease that is serving no purpose, serves no
purpose other than to have us watch a building run
down. This is a site that has seen generations
through it. Should there be further educational
opportunity for the community it should be freed up
for that purpose." |
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